Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1824 Comm Sub / Bill

Filed 04/30/2021

                    87R20945 EAS-F
 By: Price H.B. No. 1824
 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1824:
 By:  Klick C.S.H.B. No. 1824


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the continuity of services received by individuals
 receiving services at state hospitals and state supported living
 centers, the establishment of a pilot program to provide behavioral
 health or psychiatric services to certain residential care facility
 residents, and court orders for psychoactive medication for certain
 patients.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 574.102, Health and Safety Code, is
 amended to read as follows:
 Sec. 574.102.  APPLICATION OF SUBCHAPTER. (a)  This
 subchapter applies to the application of medication to a patient:
 (1)  subject to a court order for mental health
 services under this chapter or other law; or
 (2)  transferred from a residential care facility to an
 inpatient mental health facility under Section 594.032.
 (b)  For purposes of this subchapter, a reference to a
 patient includes a person described by Subsection (a).
 SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 574.103, Health and
 Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
 Sec. 574.103.  ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION TO PATIENT UNDER
 COURT-ORDERED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OR TRANSFERRED FROM A
 RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY TO AN INPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY.
 SECTION 3.  Section 574.103(b), Health and Safety Code, is
 amended to read as follows:
 (b)  A person may not administer a psychoactive medication to
 a patient under court-ordered inpatient mental health services or
 to a person transferred from a residential care facility to an
 inpatient mental health facility under Section 594.032 who refuses
 to take the medication voluntarily unless:
 (1)  the patient is having a medication-related
 emergency;
 (2)  the patient is under an order issued under Section
 574.106 or 592.156 authorizing the administration of the medication
 regardless of the patient's refusal; or
 (3)  the patient is a ward who is 18 years of age or
 older and the guardian of the person of the ward consents to the
 administration of psychoactive medication regardless of the ward's
 expressed preferences regarding treatment with psychoactive
 medication.
 SECTION 4.  Sections 574.104(a) and (b), Health and Safety
 Code, are amended to read as follows:
 (a)  A physician who is treating a patient in an inpatient
 setting may, on behalf of the state, file an application in a
 probate court or a court with probate jurisdiction for an order to
 authorize the administration of a psychoactive medication
 regardless of the patient's refusal if:
 (1)  the physician believes that the patient lacks the
 capacity to make a decision regarding the administration of the
 psychoactive medication;
 (2)  the physician determines that the medication is
 the proper course of treatment for the patient;
 (3)  the patient is:
 (A)  under an order for inpatient mental health
 services under this chapter or other law;
 (B)  transferred from a residential care facility
 to an inpatient mental health facility under Section 594.032; or
 (C)  the subject of a filed [an] application for
 court-ordered mental health services under Section 574.034 or [,
 574.0345,] 574.035 [, or 574.0355 has been filed for the patient];
 and
 (4)  the patient, verbally or by other indication,
 refuses to take the medication voluntarily.
 (b)  An application filed under this section must state:
 (1)  that the physician believes that the patient lacks
 the capacity to make a decision regarding administration of the
 psychoactive medication and the reasons for that belief;
 (2)  each medication the physician wants the court to
 compel the patient to take;
 (3)  whether an application for court-ordered mental
 health services under Section 574.034, 574.0345, 574.035, or
 574.0355 has been filed;
 (4)  whether a court order described by Subsection
 (a)(3) for [inpatient mental health] services for the patient has
 been issued and, if so, under what authority it was issued;
 (5)  the physician's diagnosis of the patient; and
 (6)  the proposed method for administering the
 medication and, if the method is not customary, an explanation
 justifying the departure from the customary methods.
 SECTION 5.  Sections 574.106(a) and (a-1), Health and Safety
 Code, are amended to read as follows:
 (a)  The court may issue an order authorizing the
 administration of one or more classes of psychoactive medication to
 a patient who:
 (1)  is described by Section 574.102(a) [under a court
 order to receive inpatient mental health services]; or
 (2)  is in custody awaiting trial in a criminal
 proceeding and was ordered to receive inpatient mental health
 services in the six months preceding a hearing under this section.
 (a-1)  The court may issue an order under this section only
 if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence after the
 hearing:
 (1)  that the patient lacks the capacity to make a
 decision regarding the administration of the proposed medication
 and treatment with the proposed medication is in the best interest
 of the patient; or
 (2)  if the patient was ordered to receive inpatient
 mental health services by a criminal court with jurisdiction over
 the patient, that treatment with the proposed medication is in the
 best interest of the patient and either:
 (A)  the patient presents a danger to the patient
 or others in the inpatient mental health facility in which the
 patient is being treated as a result of a mental illness [disorder
 or mental defect] as determined under Section 574.1065; or
 (B)  the patient:
 (i)  has remained confined in a correctional
 facility, as defined by Section 1.07, Penal Code, for a period
 exceeding 72 hours while awaiting transfer for competency
 restoration treatment; and
 (ii)  presents a danger to the patient or
 others in the correctional facility as a result of a mental illness
 [disorder or mental defect] as determined under Section 574.1065.
 SECTION 6.  Section 574.107, Health and Safety Code, is
 amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to
 read as follows:
 (a)  The costs for a hearing under this subchapter for a
 patient committed under this chapter shall be paid in accordance
 with Sections 571.017 and 571.018.
 (c)  The costs for a hearing under this subchapter for a
 patient committed under Chapter 593 shall be paid by the county that
 ordered the commitment under that chapter.
 SECTION 7.  Section 574.110, Health and Safety Code, is
 amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to
 read as follows:
 (a)  An [Except as provided by Subsection (b), an] order
 issued under Section 574.106 for a patient that is committed under
 this chapter, other than a patient to whom Subsection (a-1) or (b)
 applies, expires on the expiration or termination date of the order
 for temporary or extended mental health services in effect when the
 order for psychoactive medication is issued.
 (a-1)  An order issued under Section 574.106 for a patient
 that is committed under Chapter 593 expires as provided by Section
 592.160.
 SECTION 8.  Section 576.025(a), Health and Safety Code, is
 amended to read as follows:
 (a)  A person may not administer a psychoactive medication to
 a patient receiving voluntary or involuntary mental health services
 who refuses the administration unless:
 (1)  the patient is having a medication-related
 emergency;
 (2)  the patient is younger than 16 years of age, or the
 patient is younger than 18 years of age and is a patient admitted
 for voluntary mental health services under Section 572.002(3)(B),
 and the patient's parent, managing conservator, or guardian
 consents to the administration on behalf of the patient;
 (3)  the refusing patient's representative authorized
 by law to consent on behalf of the patient has consented to the
 administration;
 (4)  the administration of the medication regardless of
 the patient's refusal is authorized by an order issued under
 Section 574.106 or 592.156; or
 (5)  the administration of the medication regardless of
 the patient's refusal is authorized by an order issued under
 Article 46B.086, Code of Criminal Procedure.
 SECTION 9.  Section 592.152(a), Health and Safety Code, is
 amended to read as follows:
 (a)  A person may not administer a psychoactive medication to
 a client receiving voluntary or involuntary residential care
 services who refuses the administration unless:
 (1)  the client is having a medication-related
 emergency;
 (2)  the refusing client's representative authorized by
 law to consent on behalf of the client has consented to the
 administration;
 (3)  the administration of the medication regardless of
 the client's refusal is authorized by an order issued under Section
 574.106 or 592.156; or
 (4)  the administration of the medication regardless of
 the client's refusal is authorized by an order issued under Article
 46B.086, Code of Criminal Procedure.
 SECTION 10.  Section 592.153(b), Health and Safety Code, is
 amended to read as follows:
 (b)  A person may not administer a psychoactive medication to
 a client who refuses to take the medication voluntarily unless:
 (1)  the client is having a medication-related
 emergency;
 (2)  the client is under an order issued under Section
 574.106 or 592.156 authorizing the administration of the medication
 regardless of the client's refusal; or
 (3)  the client is a ward who is 18 years of age or older
 and the guardian of the person of the ward consents to the
 administration of psychoactive medication regardless of the ward's
 expressed preferences regarding treatment with psychoactive
 medication.
 SECTION 11.  Chapter 594, Health and Safety Code, is amended
 by adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
 SUBCHAPTER D. TEMPORARY TRANSFER BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL CARE
 FACILITIES PILOT PROGRAM
 Sec. 594.101.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
 (1)  "Alternate residential care facility" means a
 residential care facility other than the one in which a resident
 resides prior to a temporary transfer.
 (2)  "Local intellectual and developmental disability
 authority" has the meaning assigned by Section 531.002.
 (3)  "Originating residential care facility" means the
 residential care facility at which the resident resides prior to a
 temporary transfer.
 (4)  "State supported living center" has the meaning
 assigned by Section 531.002.
 (5)  "Temporary transfer" means the transfer of a
 resident from the originating residential care facility to an
 alternate residential care facility to receive behavioral health or
 psychiatric services for a limited time.
 Sec. 594.102.  TEMPORARY TRANSFERS BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL CARE
 FACILITIES PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The commission may establish a pilot
 program for the purpose of providing for temporary transfers of
 residents from originating residential care facilities to
 alternate residential care facilities to provide behavioral health
 or psychiatric services for those residents. The pilot program
 must include:
 (1)  one alternate residential care facility for
 psychiatric services; and
 (2)  one or two alternate residential care facilities
 for intensive behavioral health services.
 (b)  The executive commissioner, in consultation with the
 work group described by Section 594.103, by rule shall specify the
 types of information the commission must collect during the pilot
 program to:
 (1)  evaluate the outcome of the pilot program;
 (2)  ensure the rights of persons in the pilot program
 are commensurate with the rights of persons at the originating
 facility, as appropriate; and
 (3)  ensure services provided under the pilot program
 meet the applicable requirements under Section 594.108(c)(4) and
 594.109(f)(4).
 Sec. 594.103.  WORK GROUP MEMBERS. If a pilot program is
 established under this subchapter, the executive commissioner
 shall establish a work group to consult in adopting the rules
 described by Section 594.102(b). The work group is composed of:
 (1)  two representatives who are intellectual
 disability advocates, one of whom is from Disability Rights Texas;
 (2)  one representative from a local intellectual and
 developmental disability authority;
 (3)  a board certified behavioral analyst with
 expertise working with individuals with intellectual disabilities;
 (4)  a psychiatrist with expertise working with
 individuals with intellectual disabilities;
 (5)  a psychologist with expertise working with
 individuals with intellectual disabilities;
 (6)  a current or former resident of a state supported
 living center;
 (7)  a family member or guardian of a current or former
 resident of a state supported living center; and
 (8)  any other individual the executive commissioner
 considers appropriate to appoint to the work group.
 Sec. 594.104.  TEMPORARY TRANSFER LIMITATIONS. A temporary
 transfer under a pilot program established under this subchapter
 may not be considered a permanent transfer and is not a discharge
 from the originating residential care facility.
 Sec. 594.105.  TEMPORARY TRANSFER OF VOLUNTARY RESIDENT. A
 voluntary resident may not be temporarily transferred to an
 alternate residential care facility under a pilot program under
 this subchapter without legally adequate consent to the transfer.
 Sec. 594.106.  RETURN OF RESIDENT. A resident shall be
 returned to the originating residential care facility after
 participating in a pilot program under this subchapter.  The
 originating residential care facility shall maintain a vacancy for
 the resident while the resident participates in the pilot program.
 Sec. 594.107.  TRANSFER OR DISCHARGE OF RESIDENT. A
 resident who is transferred to an alternate residential care
 facility under a pilot program under this subchapter who no longer
 requires treatment at a residential care facility may be
 transferred to an alternative placement or discharged directly from
 the alternate residential care facility without returning to the
 originating residential care facility.
 Sec. 594.108.  ALTERNATE RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY FOR
 PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES. (a) Before the temporary transfer of a
 resident to an alternate psychiatric residential care unit under a
 pilot program under this subchapter, the resident must be examined
 by a licensed psychiatrist who indicates that the resident is
 presenting with symptoms of mental illness to the extent that care,
 treatment, and rehabilitation cannot be provided in the originating
 residential care facility.
 (b)  The commission may transfer a resident under a pilot
 program under this subchapter for an initial period not to exceed 60
 days for the purposes of receiving psychiatric services.
 (c)  The alternate residential care facility for psychiatric
 services operated under a pilot program under this subchapter must:
 (1)  use an interdisciplinary treatment team to provide
 clinical treatment that is:
 (A)  directed toward lessening the signs and
 symptoms of mental illness; and
 (B)  similar to the clinical treatment provided at
 a state psychiatric hospital;
 (2)  employ or contract for the services of at least one
 psychiatrist who has expertise in diagnosing and treating persons
 with intellectual disabilities;
 (3)  employ a board certified behavioral analyst who
 has expertise in diagnosing and treating persons with intellectual
 disabilities;
 (4)  assign staff members to residents participating in
 the pilot program at an average ratio not to exceed:
 (A)  three residents to one direct support
 professional during the day and evening; and
 (B)  six residents to one direct support
 professional over night;
 (5)  provide additional training to direct support
 professionals working on the alternate psychiatric care unit
 regarding the service delivery system for residents served on that
 unit; and
 (6)  ensure that each psychiatric unit complies with
 the requirements for ICF-IID certification under the Medicaid
 program, as appropriate.
 Sec. 594.109.  ALTERNATE RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY FOR
 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. (a) Except as provided by Subsection
 (c), before the temporary transfer of a resident to an intensive
 behavioral health unit under a pilot program under this subchapter,
 an interdisciplinary team must determine whether the resident is an
 individual who, despite an interdisciplinary team having on two or
 more occasions developed or revised an interdisciplinary team
 action plan in response to the occurrence of a significant event
 described by Subsection (b), and appropriate treatment and
 implementation of the plan, including treatment targeted to the
 individual's challenging behaviors, remains likely to cause
 substantial bodily injury to others and requires an intensive
 behavioral health environment to continue treatment and protect
 other residents or the general public.
 (b)  For purposes of Subsection (a), a significant event
 includes:
 (1)  the rate of the resident's challenging behavior
 has remained consistently above baseline for at least four of six
 months after implementation of the interdisciplinary team action
 plan; and
 (2)  either:
 (A)  the intensity of the resident's behavior has
 caused serious injury to others; or
 (B)  the resident's physical aggression towards
 others has resulted in more than three crisis restraints in the last
 30 days.
 (c)  The associate commissioner of the commission with
 responsibility for state supported living centers may make an
 exception to admission criteria to require a resident to
 participate in a pilot program under this subchapter. The
 exception must be based on a determination that the resident's
 behavior poses an imminent threat to others.
 (d)  In making a determination under Subsection (a), the
 interdisciplinary team shall document and collect evidence
 regarding the reason the resident requires an intensive behavioral
 health environment to continue treatment and protect other
 residents or the general public.
 (e)  The interdisciplinary team shall provide the team's
 findings, including any documentation and evidence regarding the
 proposed resident, regarding whether the proposed resident should
 participate in a pilot program under this subchapter to:
 (1)  the associate commissioner of the commission with
 responsibility for state supported living centers;
 (2)  the director of the state supported living center;
 (3)  the independent ombudsman;
 (4)  the resident or the resident's parent, if the
 resident is a minor; and
 (5)  the resident's legally authorized representative.
 (f)  An alternate residential care facility for behavioral
 health services operated under a pilot program under this
 subchapter must:
 (1)  use an interdisciplinary treatment team that is
 specially trained to provide clinical treatment designed to serve
 residents who meet criteria for the pilot program;
 (2)  employ board certified behavioral analysts with
 expertise in diagnosing and treating persons with intellectual
 disabilities to provide a ratio of one analyst serving each twelve
 beds full-time in accordance with commission rules providing
 appropriate procedures for maintaining that ratio;
 (3)  employ a professional qualified to provide
 counseling consistent with evidence-based, trauma-informed
 treatment;
 (4)  assign staff members to residents participating in
 the program at an average ratio not to exceed:
 (A)  three residents to one direct support
 professional during the day and evening; and
 (B)  six residents to one direct support
 professional at night;
 (5)  provide additional training to direct support
 professionals working at the alternate residential care facility
 regarding the service delivery system for residents served at that
 facility; and
 (6)  ensure that the intensive behavioral health units
 comply with the requirements for ICF-IID certification under the
 Medicaid program, as appropriate.
 (g)  Except as provided by Subsection (h), a resident
 transfer to an alternate residential care facility for behavioral
 health services under a pilot program under this subchapter may not
 exceed six months.
 (h)  The initial period described by Subsection (g) may be
 extended by an additional, one-time period of three months if:
 (1)  an interdisciplinary team determines:
 (A)  the resident meets the standard for admission
 under this section; and
 (B)  an extension of the initial period will
 likely enable the resident to no longer meet the criteria for the
 pilot program within the period of the extension; and
 (2)  the extension is approved by the associate
 commissioner of the commission with responsibility for state
 supported living centers.
 (i)  Except as provided by Subsection (k), if at any time
 during a resident's temporary transfer to a pilot program under
 this subchapter, the interdisciplinary treatment team determines
 that the resident no longer requires an intensive behavioral health
 environment to continue treatment and protect public safety, the
 resident shall be transferred back to the originating residential
 care facility not later than the seventh day after the date the
 interdisciplinary team makes that determination.
 (j)  Except as provided by Subsection (k), at the end of the
 period described by Subsection (g) or (h), as applicable, the
 resident shall be returned to the originating residential care
 facility not later than the seventh day after the expiration of that
 period.
 (k)  If the associate commissioner of the commission with
 responsibility for state supported living centers determines that
 there are extenuating circumstances preventing the transfer within
 the period described by Subsection (i) or (j), as applicable, the
 associate commissioner may extend the applicable period by an
 additional three days and may extend each of those additional
 three-day periods by an additional three days for as long as the
 occurrence of those extenuating circumstances prevent the
 resident's transfer. For purposes of this subsection, "extenuating
 circumstances" include extremely hazardous weather conditions or
 another disaster that prevents the timely transfer of a resident.
 Sec. 594.110.  ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS. (a) A resident is
 entitled to an expedited administrative hearing under Section
 594.015 to challenge the resident's required participation under
 Section 594.109(c) in a pilot program under this subchapter. The
 hearing must be held not later than seven days after the date the
 associate commissioner determines that the resident should
 participate in the pilot program.
 (b)  A resident who is subject to a transfer decision
 described by Section 594.109 is entitled to an administrative
 hearing under Section 594.015. The hearing shall be limited to
 determining whether the transfer decision complies with Section
 594.109. A resident may waive the right to a hearing, but if a
 hearing is requested the resident may not be transferred until
 after the administrative hearing.
 (c)  A resident is entitled to an administrative hearing with
 the commission to contest an extension described by Section
 594.109(h).
 Sec. 594.111.  RIGHT TO APPEAL. An individual may appeal a
 decision made at a hearing described by Section 594.110 by filing
 the appeal in a district court in Travis County not later than the
 30th day after the date a final order is provided to the individual.
 An appeal under this section is by trial de novo.
 SECTION 12.  Not later than November 1, 2022, the Health and
 Human Services Commission shall consult with the work group
 described by Section 594.103, Health and Safety Code, as added by
 this Act, and adopt any necessary rules to implement Subchapter D,
 Chapter 594, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
 SECTION 13.  This Act takes effect immediately if it
 receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
 house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
 If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
 effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.